Robert J

Thank you kindly for that. I'd love to, really I would. Can't see a trip to Michigan though before the year end. Most of my family is now up this way, except my mother who I visit in the summer in Windsor (she has a pool). As you know I passed through on a recent trip. But what about Organissimo in Toronto? Is it possible? I mentioned before that Joey D comes up often as his guitarist Jake Langley is from here. Some good live venues here and a 24 hour jazz station and 3/4 college stations to promote.

I'm getting the munchies all of a sudden. "Pouring the hot butter richness of a Hammond B3 over a funky backbeat with a side of tart and tasty guitar, the group's sound is damn near irresistible."

I saw the splash page but when I signed up for the newsletter it crapped out

Even weirder to think I own some of his recent releases http://www.stonyplainrecords.com/Web/artist.asp?id=394 sidewinder - he still returns to Toronto regularly. As recent as April of this year. Not bad for an 89 year old!

Oscar Peterson - from Norman Granz' Jam Session Herb Pomeroy

Jay McShann

Plus, no one asks for hand-outs here.

There's 2 names I haven't heard in awhile. Though I do go to Bagatellen once in awhile.

Anyone ever see the Italian film Caro Diario by Nino Moretti? There's a lengthy section where the protagonist rides his Vespa throughout Rome and then the countryside. All the while the 2nd cut from Koln is playing. May be the first and only instance of it on a soundtrack? (oops I am wrong)

I took to it right away when I was 18. Fascinated by that left hand. I think the last cut is in the Real Book and I learned to play that one. Not listened to it recently, though I have it now on CD. I found the Bremen & Lausanne concerts a bit more deeper though. I even have Staircase and the Bregenz / Munich concert album, the former being the better one if I recall - not sure when I'll revisit these again. Do I have time to listen, as I did in university, to 3 complete LPs while laying on a couch? An aside - if you want a laugh you can read the half-baked review in AMG of it. There's a long thread on AAJ about the author (Thom Jurek) and I have a few contributions.

Yeah. I have a Dell at home. I discovered that I have a 60 day copy of paint Shop Pro on it, so I used that. It has a 1 click correction feature which was helpful. Then some tweaks. I am no cuow though. The toughest part was trying to lighten that really dark group shot.

First time too. Quickly discovered that you can only do about 1 at a time (ie 1 per post). You first have to upload, then add them to the post. It's not like just adding a link to a pic. Took a little editing. I wish for the process I had better quality pics but for $7.99 and a shaky college hand holding it (he too must have been feeling the beat of the hips) I can't complain.

BTW, Robert, I finally checked out your sound clip, you get a big . Ever check out Gene Harris for a supremely bluesy approach to jazz? ← Thanks Dan. Oh yeah Gene Harris! In fact as we were driving through Michigan on the way to Chicago I was playing a newly bought CD - "Bam Bam Bam" I also have a Little Piece of Heaven. I'd rather listen to Gene - than our Oscar Peterson - for inspiration. In fact I was just this morning thinking about how I fell into blues-based improv and whether or not I'll ever be an "out" kind of guy. Ah well. I am going to Barry Harris' workshop in Toronto in November so maybe I can correct my bebop deficiencies.

All right Aggie. Except I get to tip the waitress.

Have a great one Dan - and one for all of us.

Jimmy Burns and myself after the gig, c. 1:30am. A real gentleman.

A great solo in the style of Pinetop Perkins

Hello all. A little late with this, but I have no digital camera so I had to wait to develop and scan. Also, as I did not trust myself with my 35mm camera that night, I ended up picking up a $7.99 disposable at Walgreen's (it also came with a flashlight!) I gave the camera to some front row college students and these 2 were the only ones that came out somewhat OK. So I got my dream of playing blues piano in Chicago on my recent family vacation! The legendary blues jam was hosted by guitarist Jimmy Burns and I signed up at the entrance - this also excluded me from the $10 cover charge. It was packed around 10:30 when I got there and I hung out at the bar. Another blessing: a pitcher of Goose Island was $6! I got to hear guitarist Lindsey Alexander (who I heard last year at Kingston Mines) and Magic Slim’s second guitarist John McDonald – a monster player who I’ve seen several times with Slim. A great soulful singer came up (I’ve forgotten his name now – a Bluebird recording artist) and others. Eventually I got the “call” at 12:00am to join the jam. I was introduced as being from Toronto. I felt right at home and got down to business. It lasted for 3 tunes (keys of A, Bb and E) and I was very happy, naturally. Burns is a great guy and I got to talk with his wife and band mates as well. The drummer - a Zappa look-alike - was a decent guy (he took the pic of me and Mr. Burns). In keeping with the niceness of Chicago’s people, the harmonica player, Paul, gave me a lift to my hotel at 2am. Here's a group pic, came out not great. Had to crop one of the college guy's head out. The female singer came up for one of the tunes. She was OK in a rocking way. Gorgeous to look at she had this way of keeping the beat with her hips - hence I needed not to follow the drummer. That's Paul on the harp. There's 2 guitarists on the left that are not visible.

Has the content been removed?

So do I. Toronto closed one of its premiere clubs for international jazz talent a couple of months ago. The Top of the Senator.

My thoughts exactly. I was going to buy one for Eddie myself but then the set started and the room cleared out quickly after the gig. I barely had enough time to look at all the photos around. Now DJ Barry Harris, he could have packed the club.

Not in this instance - this was days before Katrina. A gallon was still about $2.50.

I'd prefer jazz frisson (or was that frottage?)

I can't complain that it was "intimate". I was just suprised. Two days earlier at Buddy Guy's club there was easily over 100 people or more (btw - I have some pics of that night, need to scan this weekend). I did not bring my camera to the JS as I can't disengage the flash. After the gig I went the wrong way to the subway/rock bottom and around the corner to Blue Chicago. That place was packed at 11:30 with live music so it couldn't be lack of bodies in the city. Perhaps Harris was not as well promoted in the local media. A shame. Mark - I beleive you are right about Eddie DeHaas on bass and LeRoy Williams on drums. I recognized Eddie's name from that night and LeRoy from this pic

Just be careful if you decide to go to Newfoundland to stock up on Moosehead.